Japan watchdog asked to review Yahoo, Google deal

A Japanese online shopping mall operator says it has asked the country's anti-monopoly watchdog to review a tie-up between Yahoo Japan Corp. and Google Inc.

Rakuten Inc. said Wednesday the Yahoo Japan-Google partnership will hinder competition in the Japanese Internet market. Rakuten asked the Fair Trade Commission to review the deal, which was announced in July.

Yahoo Japan said in July it will use Google's search engine and online advertisement technology.

Yahoo Japan has more than 50 percent share of the Japanese Internet search services market, with Google around 40 percent, according to research firm Video Research Interactive Inc.